Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a water drainage-promoting wrap for applications such as housewrap and roofing underlayment. A substrate, which may be breathable or non-breathable, is conveyed through a nip between a rotating sleeve and a roll, the sleeve having a plurality of apertures therein. A fluid resin composition is fed into the sleeve and is fed out through the apertures in the sleeve as it rotates and as the substrate moves through the nip, forming spaced-apart spacer elements on a face of the substrate. The spacer elements are then dried or cured.

Abstract: Shingle blanks including a first fold region, a second fold region, a third region, a lower edge and an upper edge are provided. The shingle blank has a length. The first and second fold regions extend substantially across the length of the shingle blank. The second fold region is positioned between the first and third fold regions. A first perforation line is positioned between the second and third fold regions. A second perforation line is positioned between the first and second fold regions. A reinforcement material is positioned over the first perforation line and configured to reinforce the first perforation line. The reinforcement material includes apertures configured to allow an asphalt coating to bleed through the reinforcement material. The first and second perforation lines facilitate folding of the first and second fold regions on top of the third region to form a three layered stack.

Abstract: Cavity walls include fasteners that provide a thermal break. A cavity wall assembly includes a support structure, insulation, and an outer wythe. The insulation is mounted on the support structure. The outer wythe is spaced apart from the insulation, such that a cavity is formed between the insulation and the outer wythe. A tie is attached to the outer wythe. A fastener extends through a portion of the tie, through the insulation, and into the support structure to attach the tie to the support structure. The fastener provides a thermal break between the support structure and the tie. At least a portion of the thermal break is disposed within a width of the insulation.

Abstract: Foams for filling cavities and crevasses and for forming foamed products are provided. The latex foam may include an A-side containing a functionalized latex and a B-side that contains a crosslinking agent and optionally a non-functionalized latex. The A- and/or B-side contain a blowing agent package or components forming the blowing agent package. The blowing agent package may be the combination of two or more chemicals that when mixed together form a gas or a chemical compound that, when activated by heat or light, forms a gas. In an alternate embodiment, the latex foam includes a functionalized latex, an acid, and an encapsulated crosslinking agent and base. Alternatively, the spray latex foam may include a functionalized latex, a crosslinking agent, and an encapsulated dry acid and dry base. The encapsulating agent may be a protective, non-reactive shell that can be broken or melted at the time of application.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses and methods relating to appliances are provided. In one embodiment, an appliance having a housing, one or more moveable components inside the housing, a drive assembly, and a dampening portion is provided. The housing includes, for example, at least one side wall and the dampening member is disposed at least partially between the drive assembly and the at least one side wall. The dampening portion includes, for example, a resilient material having at least one surface extending at least partially along the side wall and the drive assembly. The dampening member is configured to limit movement of the drive assembly during shipping and handling to prevent damage to the appliance. The dampening member stays with the appliance after shipping and handling to enhance performance of the appliance, protect the moveable component, or both.

Abstract: A roofing membrane includes a membrane layer. An adhesive layer is adhered to a first side of the membrane layer and a layer of granules is adhered to the first adhesive layer.

Abstract: Reversibly cross-linkable foam is provided. The reversibly cross-linked foam includes a first polymeric material, at least one reversibly cross-linkable monomer polymerized with the first polymeric material, and at least one blowing agent. The reversibly cross-linkable co-polymeric foam is thermally stable at temperatures of at least 10 degrees higher than otherwise identical polymeric foam that does not include the reversibly cross-linkable agent polymerized with the first polymeric material.

Abstract: A general purpose insulation bag is provided. The general purpose insulation bag includes a jacket configured to form a desired three dimensional shape. The jacket forms a cavity therewithin and has an opening. Insulative material is positioned within the cavity and is configured to form an insulative layer. The insulative layer has a thickness configured to provide a desired insulative value to the general purpose insulation bag. The opening is configured to retain the insulative material within the cavity formed within the jacket.

Abstract: A roofing system including shingles with different shingle patterns. The roofing system may include a plurality of first shingles having a first two-tab shingle pattern and a plurality of second shingles having a second two-tab shingle pattern. The first shingles including a first tab having a first width and a second tab having a second width, wherein the first width and the second width are substantially equal. The second shingles including a third tab having a third width and a fourth tab having a fourth width, wherein the third width is substantially equal to the first width and the fourth width is about double the second width. The plurality of first shingles and the plurality of second shingles can be formed from a rectangular shingle blank in an interwoven pattern with substantially no scrap or waste material.

Abstract: A fibrous insulation member, a mechanism for attaching the insulation member to a building structure, and a method for attaching the insulation member to a structure utilizing the mechanism. The insulation member including a fibrous insulation body having a first lateral surface, a second lateral surface spaced apart from the first lateral surface, and a face extending from the first lateral surface to the second lateral surface. The insulation member also including a facing having a first portion attached to the face and extending the width of the face, and a second portion extending beyond the first lateral surface, the second portion having a first thickness and including a first guide having a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

Abstract: A ridge vent having a top side including a top wall with a bottom surface, a bottom side spaced apart from the top side, a side wall connecting the top side to the bottom side and an air outlet positioned in one of the top wall or the side wall. The ridge vent including a fire resistant material adjacent the bottom surface of the top wall. The ridge vent forms air flow path directing air through the vent and out of the air outlet. In a first position, the fire resistant material is not in the air flow path. In a second position, the first resistant material blocks the air flow path in response to the ridge vent being exposed to excessive heat.

Abstract: Hip and ridge shingles may be single layer or laminated. One hip and ridge shingle has a base layer and a dimensional layer affixed to the base layer by an adhesive line that extends in the machine direction and along the width of the base and the dimensional layers. The adhesive line is disposed on only one lateral side of the base layer and dimensional layers to allow movement of another lateral side of the dimensional layer relative to the base layer. Another laminated hip and ridge shingle includes a base layer and a dimensional layer affixed to the base layer by an adhesive line that extends in the machine direction and along the width of the base and the dimensional layers. Sealant that comprises at least two parallel lines of sealant material that extend in the machine direction of the base and dimensional layers is disposed on a bottom surface of the base layer for adhering the hip and ridge shingle to an underlying hip and ridge shingle.

Abstract: Polymer extruded foams that contain cell size enlarging agents are provided. The inventive composition includes a foamable polymer material, at least one blowing agent, and at least one cell size enlarging agent. The blowing agent utilized in the inventive composition is preferably selected such that the composition has a zero ozone depletion and low global warming potential. Examples include any inorganic blowing agents and/or non-hydrogenated chlorofluorocarbons (non-HCFCs). The foamable polymer material is preferably polystyrene. The cell size enlarging agent may be chosen from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and/or ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA). The cell size enlarging agent permits the formation of a foam with large cell sizes that are desirable to achieve a high insulation value and to optimize the physical properties of the foamed product. In addition, the cell size enlarging agent provides an increased cell size to the foamed product without detracting from the physical and thermal properties.

Abstract: Roofing shingle layers, roofing shingles, and roofing systems having fire retardant properties are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, the roofing shingle layers, roofing shingles, or roofing systems include an expandable fire retardant material. The expandable fire retardant material may comprise expandable graphite, ammonium polyphosphate, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A baffle, for use with a roof deck, includes a main body portion and an attachment surface. The baffle is installable from the exterior side of a roof deck through an opening in the deck to form an air flow path between the interior side of the roof deck and the main body portion. The attachment surface may be attachable to the roof deck while the main body extends along the interior side of the roof deck.

Abstract: Biocides for bio-based binder compositions are disclosed. Bio-based binders include those having a nutrient source such as carbohydrate, protein or fat, which can serve as an energy source for organisms to grow in areas that contact binder. Principal areas that contact bio-based binder in a fiberglass insulation manufacturing process include the raw ingredients, the binder chemicals, the prepared binder dispersions, the forming hood and related equipment, the final insulation product and, importantly, the cleaning systems and washwater arising from cleaning the manufacturing equipment and/or forming the product. Frequently the washwater is stored until re-cycled for re-use. Storage may take place in tanks, towers, vats and even outdoor reservoirs, all of which may harbor the growth of unwanted organisms, for which a biocide is desirable.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making polystyrene foam which utilizes one or more atmospheric gases, particularly CO2, as the blowing agent in combination with a polymer processing aid (PPA), typically an ester that is relatively non-volatile at the extrusion temperature range. The blowing agent and the PPA may both be introduced into the molten thermoplastic polystyrene resin or the PPA may be incorporated in the solid source polystyrene resins. The resulting foam will be substantially free of residual blowing agent and dimensionally stable at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: Acoustically insulated machines have an internal source of noise and an insulation member. The insulation member may include a plurality of porous, sound absorbing layers and a plurality of dense or facing layers attached to faces of the sound absorbing layers. The dense or facing layers each have a density that is greater than the densities of the sound absorbing layers. The insulation member may be oriented such that one of the dense or facing layers faces toward the internal source of noise. The insulation member may be configured such that most of the low frequency sound energy generated by the internal source of noise is not reflected back into the machine. That is, the dense or facing layer may be configured to allow a majority of low frequency sound energy from the internal source of noise to pass into the insulation member.

Abstract: Foams for filling cavities and crevasses and for forming foamed products are provided. The latex foam may include an A-side containing a functionalized latex and a B-side that contains a crosslinking agent and optionally a non-functionalized latex. The A- and/or B-side contain a blowing agent package or components forming the blowing agent package. The blowing agent package may be the combination of two or more chemicals that when mixed together form a gas or a chemical compound that, when activated by heat or light, forms a gas. In an alternate embodiment, the latex foam includes a functionalized latex, an acid, and an encapsulated crosslinking agent and base. Alternatively, the spray latex foam may include a functionalized latex, a crosslinking agent, and an encapsulated dry acid and dry base. The encapsulating agent may be a protective, non-reactive shell that can be broken or melted at the time of application.